EvenFlow to pay fine, have license suspended 1 day

GENEVA – The third Geneva restaurant cited for serving alcohol underage during Swedish Days compliance checks has come to an agreement with city officials on a fine and punishment, according to consent finding.

Liquor license holders Michael Knuth and Nicholas Mercadante of EvenFlow Music and Spirits, 302 W. State St., agreed to a $1,500 fine and a 24-hour suspension of its liquor license, from 2 a.m. Aug. 16 to 1:59 a.m. Aug. 17, according to the consent order.

A liquor hearing has been set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 22 S. First St., for a public reading of the consent findings.

By stipulating to the facts and an agreeing to the judgment, the business avoids a contested hearing.

Police perform liquor compliance checks during the festival using underaged agents to see if they can get in and be served. Of 16 checked June 21, EvenFlow was one of three cited.

Mayor Kevin Burns, in his capacity as the city’s liquor commissioner, said in a text that the higher fine was because of an earlier infraction by EvenFlow.

On Nov. 17, 2012, owner Michael Knuth and his partner, Nicholas Mercadante, were cited for serving alcohol at 4 a.m. in violation of the city’s code.

The liquor code does not allow alcoholic beverages to be served between 2 and 6 a.m. on the licensed premises any day of the week.

EvenFlow was fined $1,000 for that infraction, and the license was suspended for one day.

Knuth could not be reached for comment.

On Monday, the other two license holders also cited in the recent liquor compliance checks during Swedish Days – Sergio’s Mexican Cantina, 30 W. State St., and Fiora’s Restaurant, 317 S. Third St. – each agreed to a $1,000 fine and a one-day suspension of their liquor licenses.